The Houston Association of Realtors announced this week that the local market is once again proving to be "Houston Strong" with the last four weeks setting a new all-time record for rentals, as well as a steady rebound in home sales.

But with a renewed appreciation for the importance of a home the focus for agents, more than ever, remains on each individual transaction.

For Kristy Kubala, an agent with Bernstein Realty, her post-hurricane efforts have been one family - who lost their home, car and workplace to Harvey. Onlookers reported there were tears, hugs and "such joy" when Kubala recently delivered a car to Prescillia and her family.

Kubala made a list of the things the hard-working mother would need immediately and began calling on friends and acquaintances to help get the family back on their feet. Kubala produced results in a large and loving way, but is quick to deflect the credit.

"Thank you to all who have donated their items or money to help this beautiful family," she said.

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Karen Klucznik, a new agent at Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty, defined "Houston Strong" in her own way last week.

"She is a single mom, her home flooded in Harvey and she had to be rescued," said Terri Lemons, community relations coordinator. "But as soon as she was able, she got in there, and with help from friends and family pulled the walls and floors out and got to cleaning to get her house back in order, while doing her best to be the best mom to her son."

To "keep her head together," Lemons said, Klucznik made the time in her real estate and home schedule to get back to training for an upcoming triathlon.

The Olympic distance event in conjunction with the Fulshear Octoberfest included a 1,300-meter swim, 26-mile bike race and 6.2-mile run. Even with her interrupted training schedule, Klucznik placed second in a time performance qualifying her for the national championships in Ohio in August 2018. If she places high enough at that event, she will go on to represent the USA in her age class at the World Games.

"With all Karen has been through and especially the way she has come through it with Wonder Woman strength, I have no doubt she will go the whole way," Lemons said.

Agents at the Champions office of Better Homes and Gardens RE Gary Greene have been especially busy recently. Susan Matson and Diane Moss held a National Night Out in Gleannloch Farms. Despite the rain, they had a great turnout for hot dogs, games and a pool reopening for the kids. Nathania Reid hosted the Raveneaux Country Club National Night Out with a movie night theme, snow cones, magician and fire truck.

There's still one more weekend to catch their officemate agent Janye Anderson as Wilimena in the Old West Melodrama's Production of Sam Club, Private Eye in the Case of the Motorcoach Murder at Puffabellys Old Depot Restaurant in Old Towne Spring. It's another opening for Anderson, who has been a professional actress since 2005.

Caplan represented the company on the panel of Women Leaders in Real Estate. The pair also attended the BGRS Services meetings in Chicago, reporting they learned of many exciting new ideas there.

A team from John Daugherty, Realtors including John A. Daugherty, Cheri Fama, Anne Incorvina, Isabel Dove and Woodlands agents Bill Phillips and Renay Cohen took on an important annual task before attending the recent Woodlands Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon held at The Woodlands Country Club.

They scouted the area for just the right spot for their annual Photos with Santa event, deciding that The Woodlands' version of the ever-growing event will be held Dec. 2 at Tupelo Park in the Village of Creekside Park.

Judi Griggs is a writer who lives in Houston in the winter and Buffalo in the summer - because the reverse would be ridiculous. Contact her at realnewshouston@gmail.com or through judigriggs.com.